The ripple effects from this week's indirect affirming of the 4th Circuit's ruling striking down Virginia's bans on same sex marriage by the U.S. Supreme Court continue to reveal themselves, much I am sure, to the dismay of the Christofascists. Up until now, Virginia law has not clearly allow same sex couples to adopt children and the issue of second parent adoptions has been equally murky. Now, in the wake of this week's historic events, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, has indicated that legally married same sex couples can adopt just as married heterosexual couples and directives have gone out to local social services boards to that effect. The next step that will be need to be taken is to require all adoption agencies receiving state tax funds to accept marriage equality. One can only hope that the flow of state funds will be cut off from agencies that refuse to recognize same sex marriages. The Virginian Pilot looks at this development. Here are highlights:
Gov. Terry McAuliffe today extended adoption rights to married same-sex couples, another in a series of benefits flowing from the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision Monday sanctioning gay marriage in Virginia.
At McAuliffe’s direction, local social services departments across the state were told that legally married same-sex couples — whether married in Virginia or elsewhere -- can now be considered for adoptive and foster homes.
“Now that same-sex marriage in Virginia is officially legal, we owe it to all Virginians to ensure that every couple is treated equally under all of our laws, no matter whom they love,” the Democratic governor said in a statement. “This historic decision opened the door to marriage equality, and now it is my sincerest hope that it will also open more doors for Virginia children who need loving families.
“By formally recognizing that same-sex couples can now legally adopt, we are more fully complying with the ruling in this important case, and sending the message once again that Virginia is open and welcoming to everyone.”
Among the other benefits flowing from that order are health coverage for same-sex spouses of state employees and the ability of same-sex couples to file joint state income tax returns.
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